Angle calculator for structural members



June 10, 1947. J. TJHOGUE 2,421,882

ANGLE CALCULATOR FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed Nov. 2 1945 1N VEN T OR ATTORNEYS 13 James THOg'ue, deceased,

. by lenrzaMfiodue, assfcirzee Patented June 10, 1947 ANGLE CALCULATOR FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS James '1. Hogue, deceased, late of San Francisco, Calif., by Lenna M. Hogue, Fresno, Calif., widow and sole owner Application November 2, 1945, SerialNo. 626,445

' 4 Claims. 1

An' objector my invention is to provid an angle calculator for structural members which is an improvement over the form of the device shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. V06V,0Ol,-filed October 12, 1943. In'the cO-pendto parallel the surfaces against which the memher is placed. In my co-pending case the means for determining the angle at which to cut the ends comprise frames which are adjustable as to size'and which are designed to enclose the structural member. a

In the present form of the invention I provide two U-shaped frames, each made up of two L- shaped members which are adjustably secured to each other and to a supporting handle. The U- shaped frame permits'the structural membe to be straddled while being marked. The present instrument is adapted to permit angle markings to be made on structural members which are larger than the U-shaped frame.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction and which makes use ofan extension rod that permits the instrument to be used on structural members that may be of considerable length. The device can be used for marking structural members of rectangular, circula or any other type of cross section.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this'application, in which:

7 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a structural member showing my device operatively applied thereto for marking the ends of the member with lines extendingat the desired angle;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top planview of one of the U-shaped frames when looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in Figure 1;

.Figure 3 illustrates how the two parts of each frame are connected together and to th supporting handle; 7 I

Figure 4 is an isometric vi w of the handle portic-n that is connected to the U-shaped frame;

. Figure 5 is an isometric View of the U-shaped frame and shows it attached to the supporting handle; and I I r e p Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a double sleeve clamp used for connecting an extension with the handle.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,

In carrying out my invention I provide a U- shaped frame indicated generally at A in Figure 2. The frame is composed of two L-shaped members AI and AZ. The member AI has an arm I provided with a slot 2 therein and has an arm 3' extending at right angles to the arm I and provided with a plurality of threaded openings 4 for receiving adjustable measuring screws 5. In like manner the L-shaped member A2 has an arm 6 with a slot I therein and an arm 8 extending at right angles to the arm 6 and having a plurality of threaded opening 9 forreceiving additional adjustable measuring screws 5. The two slots 2 and Iregister with each other when the arms I and 6 are arranged in superimposed relation.

Referring to Figure Lit will be noted that I provide a handle B and this handle has an integral projection I 0 which is non-circular in cross section and the width II of the projection is equal to the width of the slots 2 and I. The height of the projection II] from theshoulder I2 is slightly less than the combined thicknesses of the two arms I and 6. An integral threaded stud I3extends from the free end of the projection Ill and has its axis coinciding with the axis of the handle B. A wing nut I4 is threaded upon the stud I3 after the arms I and 6 are placed so that the projection IE] will be received in the slots 2 and I. The wing nut when tightened in place will fric tionally bind the arms I and 6 between the shoulder I2 and the nut so that the arms cannot move longitudinally with respect to each other or with respect to the handle 13. The non-circular shape of the projection I9 prevents the angular swinging of the arms I and 6 with respect to each other.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be noted that two U-shaped frames A are provided and each has'a handle B rigidly secured to the frames in the manner just described. The frames A are shown straddling a cylindrical structural member indicated generally at C. This member is shown long enough to require the two handles'B to be connected together by an extension D.

Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the handle B is slidably received in a double sleeve coupler indicated generally at E. The coupler E has a sleeve l for receiving the handle B and a sleeve I6 for receiving the extension D. Wing screws I1 and 18 are carried by the sleeves I 5 and I6, respectively, and are tightened after the handle B and extension D have been moved into the desired position within the sleeves. The parts are now secured together as a unit.

In order to prevent any angular misalignment between the two arms A, I provide the handles B with a marker line I9 and the extension D with a marker line 20. The sleeve [5 has two aligned arrows 2| stamped on its outer surface and designed to be brought into registry with the line IS on the handle B; while the sleeve It! has two aligned arrows 22 stamped on its outer surface and designed to be brought into registry with the line 20 on the extension D. The lines id and 2%] when registering with the pairs of arrows El and 22 indicate to the operator that the two frames A are in perfect alignment with each other.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

In using the instrument, the adjustable measuring screws 5 and threaded into the openings 4 and 9 and the screws adjacent to the arms I and 6 are retracted so that their pointed end 23 will be disposed in substantially the same plane as the tips of the wings on the wing nut Hi, the plane extending parallel with the plane formed by the frame A. The instrument is now disposed in the position between the two surfaces which is to be occupied by the structural member and the screws 5 are advanced by rotating them in their threaded openings so that their pointed ends 3 will contact with the surfaces against which the ends of the structural member will eventually abut.

The instrument is now removed and placed over the structural member C which is to have its ends cut at the desired angle. The pointed ends 23 of the screws 5 will indicate on the surfaces of the structural member, the angle of out which is needed to cause the plane of each end to lie flush with its associate surface when the structural member is placed in position. In connection with the marking of a cylindrical member, such as the pipe C shown in Figure 1, points are marked on the member which will be in line with the screw ends 23. The points on the member are then connected by marking a line on the member which will pass through the points and indicate the angle of the cut to be made.

Where a structural member has a thickness that can be received between the arms 3 and 8 of the frame A, but has a Width which extends beyond the free ends of the arms 3 and 8, then the screws 5 in the two openings disposed nearest the arms I and 6 may be used for measuring and when the instrument is placed on the member, points can be marked on the surfaces of the member which will register with the screw ends. A line may be drawn interconnecting the two points on each of the two opposed surfaces and a ruler may be used so that the line can be drawn entirely across the width of the member and on opposite sides thereof. When the two lines are thus drawn, the other two surfaces of the member which extend at right angles to the first two surfaces can have lines drawn thereacross, the ends of which lines will connect with the ends of the first two lines.

It is also possible to use a fence as set forth 7 in my co-pending case and place the fence on the ends of the screws in the manner disclosed. The

fence can be used as a guide for marking the structural member. The fence need not necessarily be used because a ruler can take its place.

The handle 13 can be of different lengths and where short distances are to be measured, the extension D need not be used. I prefer to use four or more measuring screws and I have shown six in the drawing. Where a pipe is to be measured more screws are preferable so that the exact angle of cut can be determined. Where short spans are to be measured one operator can manipulate the instrument, but in long spans two men are required.

In the laying out of hip, valley and jack rafters which have very acute angles, the screws at the free ends of the arms 3 and 8 are not used. The two screws on each arm 3 and 8 disposed nearest the arms I and 6 are used for this type of measuring.

I claim:

1. An angle calculator for structural members comprising two U-framos, each having side arms adjustable toward and away from each other, an arm connected to each frame and extending at right angles to the plane of the frame, each arm having a longitudinally extending line, a double sleeve coupling for each arm and having one of the sleeves telescoped over the arm, and an extension receiving the free sleeve of each coupling, said extension having a longitudinally extending line, and indicating means on the sleeves, the lines on said arms and extension when registering with the indicating means causing the two frames to be supported in proper position, and measuring screws threaded into openings in the frames and extending at right angles to the planes of the frames.

2. In an angle calculator for structural members, a U-shaped frame composed of a pair of L-shaped members, one leg of each member being slotted, the slotted legs being arranged in superimposed relation for causing portions of the slots to overlap each other, a handle having a noncircular projection slidably receivable in the slots and having a length slightly less than the combined thickness of the two legs, said handle having a screw stud extending beyond the projection, the axis of the stud coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the handle, a wing nut receivable on the stud for clamping the members to the handle, and measuring screws carried by the other legs of said members and extending perpendicular to the plane of the frame.

3. An angle calculator for structural members comprising two U-frames, each having side arms adjustable toward and away from each other, an arm connected to each frame and extending at right angles to the plane of the frame, each arm having a longitudinally extending line, a double sleeve coupling for each arm and having one of the sleeves telescoped over the arm, and an extension receiving the free sleeve of each coupling, said extension having a longitudinally extending line, and indicating means on the sleeves, the lines on said arms and extension when registering with the indicating means causing the two frames to be supported in proper position, and measuring screws threaded into openings in the frames and extending at right angles to the planes of the frames, and means for securing the arms and extension in the couplings.

4. In a device of the type described, a pair of angle-shaped members, each member having a slotted arm, a plurality of measuring screws carried by the other arm of each member, the slotted arms being arranged in superimposed relation so that the slots will overlap each other for a portion of their lengths, a handle extending at right angles to the plane made by the members, said handle having a non-circular projection with a width equal to the width of the slots, whereby the members are held against angular swinging movement with respect to the handle, said projection having a length slightly less than the combined thicknesses of the two arms, a threaded stud extending beyond the free end of the projection and having its axis aligned with the handle axis, and a Wing nut threaded upon the stud for clamping the members to the handle.

LENNA M. I-IOGUE, Widow and Sole Owner of the Estate of James T.

H ogae, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 

